A memorial service was on Thursday held for former Botswana national team head coach David Bright in Gaborone.
In adherence of the state’s social distancing recommendations due to the Covid-19 virus, the memorial service for the 64-year-old football manager was held at National Stadium, with only 50 people in attendance.
Bright breathed his last on Monday after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 recently.
Popularly known as Fakude, Bright has had an illustrious coaching career over the years and was considered to be one of Botswana’s most successful coaches.
The president of Republic of Botswana Mokgweesti Masisi paid tribute to the fallen coach describing him as a great man who was committed to his job.
“This great man had dedicated his life to the service of the country having served in the Botswana Defence Force and the football fraternity where he left an indelible mark,” reads President Mokgweesti statement.
“Fakude leaves a legacy; he put Botswana on the international map when he was appointed Cape Town Santos’s coach. During his stay there he hammered big clubs such as Orlando Pirates, an achievement that shall forever remain.”
Botswana Football Association president Maclean Letshwiti also paid tribute to the former coach;
“Shedding tears when someone dies is normal, but I think more people than normal are shedding tears over this and I think they’re shedding more than normal,” Letshwiti said.
“I think that’s just because of the way Major Bright lived his life, so positive, so influential, and just things the right way even when faced with some of the longest odds imaginable.”
Bright began his coaching career with Mogoditshane Fighters where he spent 13 years with the club, winning three league titles with them.
In South Africa, he worked as head coach at Several PSL teams including Santos, Chippa United and Black Leopards.
He also coached at First Division sides FC Cape Town, Sivutsa Stars and Thanda Royal Zulu, as well as at Botswana Premiership team Gaborone United.
His spell with the Botswana senior national team, The Zebras ran between the years of 1997-98, 1999, 2000, and 2017-2019.
Bright was also remarkable with the national Under-23 men’s team, which finished in the group stages of and missed out on the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
